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Abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” is a cosmetic surgical procedure used to make the abdomen thinner and firmer. The surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall.
You might consider a tummy tuck if:
A tummy tuck poses various risks, including:
Like any other type of major surgery, a tummy tuck poses a risk of bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia.
Initially, you’ll talk to a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck. During your first visit, your plastic surgeon will likely:
Before a tummy tuck you might also need to:
A tummy tuck is done in a hospital or an outpatient surgical facility. During a tummy tuck, you’ll be under general anesthesia — which makes you completely unconscious and unable to feel pain. In some cases, you might be given an analgesic and be moderately sedated (partially asleep).
Your plastic surgeon will make incisions to remove most of the skin and fat between your bellybutton and pubic hair in a horizontal oval or elliptical shape. The fascia, which overlies the abdominal muscles, will be tightened with
permanent sutures.
Your plastic surgeon will then reposition the skin around your bellybutton. Your bellybutton will be brought out through a small incision and sutured in its normal position. The incision from hip to
hip above the pubic hair will be stitched together and will leave a scar that falls along the natural crease within the bikini line.
During the procedure you might be given an antibiotic to prevent infection.
The
procedure typically takes about three hours.
Both full and mini abdomino-plasties involve the tightening of abdominal muscles and the removal of excess skin. The main difference is that the full tummy tuck is typically employed to rejuvenate the areas both above and below the belly button whereas the mini tummy tuck is generally confined to the lower abdomen below the belly button.
What is recovery like?Following tummy tuck surgery, drain tubes will need to be left in place for about one week. Most patients experience some bruising and/or swelling, though these symptoms should subside over the course of a few weeks. Most individuals can return to non-strenuous jobs or activities after about one to two weeks; however, heavy lifting and/or strenuous physical labor should be avoided for at least six to eight weeks. To help facilitate healing, patients are often encouraged to walk around as soon as they feel comfortable enough to do so.
Will there be much pain after surgery?Mild to moderate discomfort may be possible in the days following abdominoplasty, but any pain can often be managed and even alleviated with medication.
Will my scars be noticeable?Incisions for tummy tuck surgery are made low on the abdomen – often near the pubic region – so any potential scarring can often be concealed by most articles of clothing, including bathing suits and most underwear varieties.
Is it okay to have tummy tuck surgery before having kids?While there are typically no major risks associated with becoming pregnant after tummy tuck surgery, it is typically recommended that patients wait until they are done having children before undergoing the procedure. Doing so can help ensure the results achieved are not compromised by the bodily changes that often occur during pregnancy.
